Fresh Evidence of Dandin's Composition of Kalapariccheda
Summary
Investigating the authorship of the Kalāpariccheda, the author presents new evidence that the Sanskrit literary critic Daṇḍin wrote this treatise on the arts. Citing Jagaddhara’s commentary on the Kāvyādarśa and other medieval sources, he notes references to a Kalāpariccheda composed by Daṇḍin that is distinct from Bharata’s Nāṭyaśāstra. Daṇḍin’s classification of the sixty‑four arts places theatre and music at the centre and discusses varieties such as Nāṭyakalā virodha and Gītakalā virodha. The article argues that the systematic treatment of the arts in Daṇḍin’s works presupposes a separate treatise and that manuscript evidence supports its existence. The author calls for further searches and textual analysis to reconstruct this lost work and enhance understanding of Sanskrit aesthetics.
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Conclusion
Through careful reading of commentaries and textual cross‑references, the paper strengthens the case for attributing the Kalāpariccheda to Daṇḍin. It highlights Daṇḍin’s nuanced treatment of the arts and encourages renewed efforts to recover and study this forgotten treatise.